Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-17
WASHING TONS LAw.MAKERs.


Skeeches Of the Men who Form the
Senate District COMMITTEES.
HISTORY on TIE ooxxarrm-How sRxAroR INGALLS,
ADVANCED RS STANDING AND NFLuHNcE-wRo
THE PRESENT MENBERs ARE. AND WHAT THEY took
LIKE-rHrn Nr1REyr IN DISTRICT ArrArRs.
The District committee Il one Of the oldest Of the
senate, having been created at the second session
OF the Fourteenth Congress- on December l6, 1916
A resolution was reported from the committee on
rules "for the appointment OF q standing commit
Tee for the District OF Columbia OF five members"
II was adopted, and the original committee con-
sisted OF Messra Mason, OF virginia GOidsborough,
Macon, Daggett, and Mr.. STOKES. 1t remained rs
created until March 4 1867, when the membership
was increased from f1ve TO seven. No other change
followed until March. 1879, at the special session
OF the Forty-sixth Congress. when the democrats
got control Of the Senate. The membership was
then increased to nine, and Mr. Harris, OF Tennes-
see, was made chairman. He retained the chair
manship for the two years OF democratic ascen-
dancy, and at the special session Of 1881 when the
republicans regained control OF the committees,
Senator IngallA the senior republican member,
became chairman.
the basement OF the Senate wing, occupying the
small room In the extreme southwest corner now
held py the library committee. Within short
man the subject Of Changing the routes Of the
steam railroads and OF providing union depot
was brought prominently before the committee.
IN handling this important question OF local In
terest numerous hearings were ACCORDED citazenS
and railroad representatives.
CHANGE or QuARfKka.
In the course OF these hearings It was made
manifest that the ON was not only too small for
the uses OF the committee, but that It was In q
very incOnvenient location. Senator Ingalls, was
also q member OF the committee on rules, and that
committee, under revision OF the rules, had been
given Jurisdiction over thu Senate wing In all that
related TO Its internal arrangements At that time
the senate poSt-0fce was on the same hoOr with
the Senate chamber adjoining the sergeant-at.
arms ONCE on the east. Senator ingalls, decided
that the room occupied by the post-ofice would
Just suit him for committee room, and In short
order the postbnice was removed to the basement
and It's old quarters rented and refurnisned for
the District committee. Through this foresight
and vigilance Of its chairman the District commit
tee now mas not only one OF the most commodiOus
And accessible but the
HANDsoNxsT COMMITTEE ROOM
Of the Senate. The ceiling contains some OF the
most elaborate and artistic frescoing In the Capt.
t0l, the walls are beautifully decorated, and the
furniture is In keeping with the surroundings. But
IL Is not only In material matters that Senator In
gals has elevated the committee He has devoted
among the first committees OF the Senate. Sena-
tor ingalls, has been indefatigable in taking care
OF District interests, and he is now generally
known as the mayor OF Washington" Not only
is the committee better situated with regard to
It's room and surroundin- s. but 1t has been ad-
vanced In standing and influence until 1t classes
among the nrst committees Of the Senate